Some autographs & a cycle

I’ve been going to baseball games for around 25 years, but I still see new things. Last night, I got to see my first cycle (not counting games on TV.)

(Gabe Jacobo hits a first inning grand slam on his way to a cycle – video by Mike Ashmore)

Lancaster Barnstormers’ first baseman Gabe Jacobo accomplished the feat, though I must admit I didn’t realize it until I was alerted to the fact an inning later.

Jacobo told MyCentralJersey.com reporter Mike Ashmore that this was the second time he had hit for the cycle in his career – the first came in 2009 when he still played in affiliated baseball.

Before the game, I got autographs from a pair of former major leaguers who now play for the Barnstormers.

Chris Schwinden pitched in seven games for the New York Mets in 2011 and 2012, and had bounced around between several organizations since then before ending up in the Atlantic League.

Ben Francisco spent parts of seven seasons in the major leagues, most recently with the New York Yankees in 2013. He went to the playoffs three years in a row with the Philadelphia Phillies, and appeared in the 2009 World Series that they lost to the Yankees.